F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix: how to watch Baku race, schedule and weather as McLaren could clinch championship

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Formula 1 heads to Baku this weekend for Round 17 of the 2025 season. Here’s everything you need to know about the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen proved dominant at the last race in Monza, taking pole position, the race win, and even setting records for the fastest Formula 1 lap and fastest race of all time.

Despite Verstappen’s impressive performance, all eyes were on McLaren’s team orders. During the race the team opted to pit third-place Oscar Piastri ahead of second-place Lando Norris, with the latter suffering from a slow stop.

The stop meant Norris came out behind his teammate, and McLaren were quick to ask their drivers to switch their positions back. The Woking-based team came under fire for the team orders, with Piastri and Norris locked in a tight battle for the drivers’ championship.

Piastri now leads Norris in the championship by 31 points, with eight races remaining.

There is growing speculation that Alpine could drop Franco Colapinto after this weekend’s race in Baku, after struggling with performance since he joined the team earlier in the year. The Argentine driver was given a 6-race test at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, but has remained in the seat on a rolling contract.

Colapinto’s Alpine seat is one of six remaining available seats for the 2026 grid, with both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli yet to confirm their seats with Mercedes next year.

When is the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix? Full Baku weekend schedule, including qualifying and practice times

The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is set to take place between the 19th and 21st September, with the main grand prix at the Baku City Circuit taking place on Sunday 21st September at 3pm (track time) or 12pm (UK time).

How to watch the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku, including free highlights

The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix can be watched live on Sky Sports Main Event, with all additional coverage, including practice and qualifying, available on the Sky Sports F1 channel. NowTV customers with the Sky Sports package can also watch the race and all additional coverage live.

Free to watch highlights of the race in Baku will be available to watch at 5.30pm on Channel 4.

What is the weather for the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku?

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is known for its warmer and drier conditions; however, it looks like some rain could impact the Saturday sessions.

Friday 19 September 2025 – FP1/FP2: Friday looks set to be dry, although there is a small 10% chance of rain across the day. Temperatures are forecast to reach a maximum of 23°C across both practice sessions.

Saturday 20 September 2025 – FP3/Qualifying: Although it should be a dry FP3, wetter conditions are set to move in during Qualifying at 4pm (1pm UK time). Temperatures will be slightly cooler at 20°C, and a moderate 18mph breeze could cause further upset during the afternoon session, as drivers battle for grid position.

Sunday 21 September – Race: The chance of rain during Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix will significantly reduce, although there will still be a 10% chance of some showers. The forecast says that the day will be sunny with a gentle breeze and temperatures reaching a maximum of 22°C.

What is the Pirelli tyre allocation for the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

Pirelli has announced that the C6 tyre will return at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, after not being seen since the Canadian Grand Prix. The tyre supplier has opted to go a step softer than last year’s race in Baku, selecting the three softest compounds for the 2025 race.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will see the C4 Hard, C5 Medium and C6 Soft tyres, which have previously been used in Montreal, as well as the Emilia-Romagna and Monaco grands prix. Pirelli have said they’ve chosen to go for softer compounds than last year’s race, stating that the same selection as in 2024 would “inevitably lead to a one-stop strategy”.

With this season’s tyres showing considerably less graining, the softer tyre will open up the potential for a two-stop strategy.

Where is the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix held?

The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is held at the Baku City Circuit, a 6.01 km (3.73 mi) circuit that runs around the streets of Baku. The city lies along the coastline of the Caspian Sea and is known for being the largest city in the world below sea level.

The Baku City Circuit was designed by the circuit designer Hermann Tilke, who has worked on a number of F1 tracks, including the Bahrain International Circuit and the Yas Marina Circuit. It first hosted the European Grand Prix in 2016 before becoming the Azerbaijan Grand Prix the following year.

Sergio Perez is the only driver to take multiple victories at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with two wins in 2021 and 2023.

Who won the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

The 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was won by Oscar Piastri after starting the race from second place. Charles Leclerc took pole position for the fourth consecutive year, but lost the position on lap 20 after an impressive move from Piastri on the main straight.

George Russell inherited third place on the final lap after a failed overtake on Leclerc saw Sergio Perez racing wheel-to-wheel with Carlos Sainz in the first couple of turns. Perez and Sainz collided after Turn 2, sending them both into the barrier and causing a Virtual Safety Car.

Lando Norris had struggled in qualifying, starting the race from P15. However, the McLaren driver put in an impressive performance and finished the race in fourth place, ahead of his championship rival Max Verstappen.